Handle



Dec. 5, 1939. G E, 5FGREN 2,182,565

HANDLE Filed May 5, 1938 INVENTOR. BY 9" A T EY.

aiented ec. 1939 Application May 5, 1938, Serial No. 206,186

5 Claims.

My invention relates to handles and more particularly to a handle for carrying a vacuum cleaner or other article.

An object of my invention is to provide an 6- improved handle of flexible material which fits snugly to the body or casing in a retracted position when not in use and which will withstand considerable strain.

Another object of my invention is to provide 10 a handle secured with a fixed pivot at one end and a sliding pivot at the other end with means to prevent vibration of the pivot pins.

What I consider to be novel and my invention may be better understood by reference to 5 the following specification and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner with my improved handle incorporated in it;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the handle;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the handle and support taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig, 3.

Referring to the drawing, I indicates a vacuum cleaner unit of the type moved around the floor by a flexible hose II to which may be connected a cleaning tool I2 through the intermediary of a substantially rigid tubular member I3. When the cleaning unit I9 is not in use it may be desirable to carry it from one place to another for which purpose handle I4 is provided. Handle I4 is formed of a flexible material I such as soft molded rubber. In order to' prevent the possibility of the fiexible material I5 becoming permanently deformed in use and to increase its tensile strength, a stiffening mem- 40 ber I6 is provided formed of a continuous strip I! of fabric wound as a continuous belt in a plurality of layers.

Handle I4 is mounted on cleaner unit III by means of a fixed pivot pin I8 and a sliding pivot pin I9. As best indicated in Fig. 4, fixed pivot pin I8 is carried by upstanding ears 20 of the cleaner unit III. A cover plate 2| encloses the ears 20 and the ends of pivot pin I8. Pivot pin l9 slides in slots 22 provided in a bracket 23 secured 5o'to casing 10. The ends of pivot pin I9 are enclosed in a cover plate 24. Handle I4 when not in use flts snugly to the body of cleaner unit I0 in a-substantially horizontal position with the pivot pin I9 held in its most forward position in 55 slots 22, shown at the left in Figs. 2 and 3, When it is desired to lift the cleaner unit I0, the handle I4 is grasped and as it is raised the pivot pin I9 slides to the right as shown in'Figs. 2 and 3 until it reaches the end of slots 22. Upon the application of further force the cleaner unit III 5 may be lifted.

When the handle I4 is released after the cleaner unit III has been placed on a supporting surface, the handle I4 returns to its retracted position. The tensile strength of the flexible material I5 10 is supplemented by stifiening member Hi to enable the handle I4 to withstand considerable strain. As best indicated in Fig. 3, the stiffening member I6 is formed with a loop 25 surrounding pivot pin I8 and a loop 26 surrounding pivot pin I9. In the formation of the stiifening member I6, the strip I 'I of fabric is wound in successive layers around mandrels to form the loops 25 and 26. The adjacent layers of the fabric strip H are secured together by means of an adhesive. After the stifiening member I6 has been formed the flexible material I 5. is molded around it. The stiffening member I6 is arched downwardly at its two ends toward the loops and 26 and is substantially straight 5 throughout the remainder of its length. The stifiening member I6 is internally strained within the rubber covering I5 so that it will support the center part of the handle I4.

The flexible material I5 is provided with de- 30 pending ends 21 and 28 which surround the loops 25 and 26 respectively of the stiffening member I6. Extending downwardly from the end 21 is a projection or lug 29. Lug 29 is formed integrally with the material I5 of handle l4 and is 5 positioned at right angles to pivot pin I8. and substantially in front of the center line of the pivot pin. When the handle I 4.is in its normal retracted position the lug 29 is in engagement with the casing of cleaner unit I0. Lug 29 tends 40 to rotate handle I4 in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 3, and assists in preventing the handle I4 from sagging in the middle. Lug 29 also produces a force upwardly due to the compression of the rubber which prevents the pivot pin I8 from rattling or vibrating in the ears 20 in the event of a relatively loose fit. A projection or flexible finger 30 extends downwardly from end 28 and parallel to the axis of pin I9.

When handle I4 is in the retracted position, 5

shown in Fig. 3, finger 30 curves to the right in contact with the casing of unit I0. When the handle I4 is arched upwardly upon use in lifting the cleaner unit III the free end of finger 30 tends to remain in position in contact with the casing due to friction while the remainder of the finger 30 bends in a reverse curvature. Upon continued movement of the handle the finger 30 ultimately slides along the casing. When handle I4 is in the retracted position, finger 30 produces a force upwardly which holds the pin IS in the slots 22 against vibration or rattling.

After the flexible material l5 has been molded around the stifiening member Hi the pins l8 and I9 are inserted through the depending ends 21 and 28 into the loops 25 and 26. The loops 25 and 26 tightly embrace the pins l8 and IS. The handle I4 is then secured to the casing of the vacuum cleaner unit ill by inserting the ends of pivot pin l8 in ears 20 and the ends of pivot pin IS in slots 22.

What I claim is:

v1. A handle for a vacuum cleaner including end pins, sheet fabric tightly secured around said end pins and forming aconnection between said pins, said fabric consisting of an endless belt with all parts between said pins secured tightly together, said belt having a straight center section and being inclined downwardly at the ends to form an arch, and a soft rubber covering molded around said fabric having depending ends through which the pins pass, said fabric constituting the sole stiffening means of the handle, said fabric being internally strained within the rubber covering for supporting the center part of the handle.

2. A handle for a vacuum cleaner casing including end pins, sheet fabric secured around said end pins and forming a connection between said pins, a soft rubber covering molded around said fabric having depending ends through which the pins pass, a lug extending downwardly from one of said depending ends and positioned at right angles to one of said pins, and a flexible finger extending downwardly from the other of said depending ends and positioned parallel to the axis of one of said pins, said lug and said finger engaging said casing to prevent vibration of said pins.

3. A handle for a vacuum cleaner casing including end pins carried by said handle, ears secured to said casing for engaging one of said pins, a bracket secured to said casing and having slots to receive the other of said pins, a lug extending downwardly from one end of said handle engaging said casing adjacent saidears, and a flexible finger extending downwardly from the other end of said handle and engaging said casing, whereby vibration of said pins is prevented.

4. A handle for a vacuum cleaner casing having longitudinal slots and upstanding ears, including end pins carried by said handle and engaging said slots and said cars, a depending lug from said handle engaging said casing adjacent said ears adapted to prevent sagging of the handle in the middle, and a flexible finger extending downwardly from said handle and engaging said casing adjacent said slots adapted to prevent vibration of the end pin in the slots.

5. A handle for a vacuum cleaner casing having upstanding ears and a bracket having longitudinal slots including a handle for said casing,

end pins carried by said handle and engaging said ears and said bracket slots, and depending projections from said handle engaging said casing and producing upwardly directed forces for holding said pins in the upstanding ears and bracket slots against vibration.

GUSTAF EINAR LOFGREN. 

